Halloween Suspense Stories- hantom Footsteps

Post date: October 31, 2025

By Karlie Dunn

The day has finally arrived, the day I have been eagerly anticipating all summer long.  I was moving into my dorm today. My stomach churned with nerves and excitement. My mom was supposed to help me move in, but she got called into work, which kind of bummed me out. But that's okay because I am super excited to meet my roommate. Over the past couple of nights, I have browsed her social media, and she seems like the type of person who can light up a room with her laugh. Friends have never come easily for me, so I am really optimistic we would click. Once I arrived at my dorm, Room 411, I stood outside, bags hanging off my shoulders, and I took a deep breath. I was preparing myself for the next chapter of my life. Once I got inside, it was eerily quiet. I guess my roommate went out because all her stuff is in her room. I had started to get all settled in when I heard footsteps outside my door and the sound of subtle movements. I froze, and my pulse started to slightly race. I peeked out the door, but to my surprise, there was no one there. “There’s nothing there, it’s just first-day jitters,” I tried to convince myself.

As the dusk began to fall, I finally got most of my stuff all settled in. I was reading one of the books my Mom had gifted me, and that’s when I heard the door handle turn and the hinges began to creak. It was my roommate, something uneasy in me twisted. I couldn’t shake the feeling that her long auburn hair soaked up the color of something once alive. “Hey, I’m Nora, Nora Hayes.”

 There was a moment of silence before I finally responded. “It is so nice to meet you, I’m Mabel.” After an awkward pause that felt slightly longer than it should have, she swiftly moved to her room with no other words. A few hours later, I heard a door slam. I tensed up, and the hair on the back of my neck perked. But I figured my roommate was just going out. 

Days passed, Nora and I only had one class together, and the rest we were on different schedules. Most nights, Nora went out, and we didn't really talk at all. I just got home from my late science class, and Nora wasn’t home, which was unusual because she normally was when I got home from Bio. I went to brush my teeth and start getting ready for bed, when I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I wasn't alone. I jumped, “Nora!!” I gasped, dropping my toothbrush from my hand. “You scared me, I didn’t know you were here.” I caught my breath and turned around. I froze. She wasn't there. There was nobody there. I stood there in shock, only the sound of the faucet dripping and what felt like my heart beating out of my chest. I told myself I was just exhausted, and I had to get to bed. “My eyes are just playing tricks on me,” I whispered to myself. 

A few minutes later, I realized that I hadn’t seen Nora in a few days. I texted her asking if she was okay, but I got no response. The next day, I really started to get worried, so I decided that if she didn’t come home today that I would go to the campus police. I was about to leave for class when Nora’s door slowly started to creak open. “Oh Nora, I was so worried about you, thank gosh you’re home!” I started walking to her door and pushed it open slightly more. The room was empty. Lights off, bed empty, but something in there felt very heavy. I heard a soft shuffle of footsteps behind me, and I whipped around. Nothing. Again. I snapped back into realization when the clock caught my gaze. “Crap, I am going to be late to class”. I rushed out the door, ignoring what had just happened in my dorm.

I got back from class, still no sign of Nora. I decided that I have to go to the campus police. I got to their office and as I was about to knock on the door, a fear shivered down my spine, clamping up my wrist. I shook it off and knocked on the door. 

Two officers answered, “Hey there, what can we help you with?”

 I paused and explained everything that was happening and that my roommate was missing. The two officers stood in silence and exchanged a strange look with each other, and then back to me. 

“What? What are you not telling me?!” I exclaimed in confusion.

 There was nothing but the hum of the fluorescent lights and my trembling knees, “Mabel, you don't have a roommate.”

 I froze in disbelief. “No, no, no, all her stuff is there. I met her. I just texted her to let me show you.”

 I pulled out my phone with my shaking hands to pull it up. The texts weren’t there. Her contact couldn't be found on my phone. The second officer began in a soft voice, “Nora Hayes died 3 years ago in dorm 411.”